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Pink Diamonds
The Argyle mine, located in Western Australia produces almost the entire World’s red and pink diamonds. Although it is the world’s largest diamond mine, most of its diamonds are champagne and cognac color. Around 0.1% are actually pink. Due to the rarity of natural pink diamonds, they tend to be on the more expensive side of the fancy colors.
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| Yellow Diamonds
Diamonds with colors below the Z range have a yellow color are graded in the fancy color range. Fancy yellow diamonds are generally less expensive than D color diamonds yet occur far less frequently in nature, making them an affordable investment and a beautiful alternative to a more traditional white diamond. Prices generally range from $5,000-$20,000/ct depending on strength of color and clarity.
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Blue Diamonds
Natural Blue diamonds are in high demand and short supply. It is becoming increasingly difficult for many dealers to locate these rare gems. With hues ranging from a faint grayish color to an ocean blue, these beautiful diamonds are a common addition to a prominant coneisseur's collection. Prices can range from 70,000-200,000/ct.
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Green Diamonds
Becasue green diamonds have come in contact with radioactive minerals such as uranium through natural irradiation of the earth authenticating natural orgin requires extensive laboratory analysis at a leading gemological institute. Pure green diamonds are highly uncommon, with perhaps only one new gree nbeing introduced ot the market each year. More common are yellowish green or green-yellows.
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Orange Diamonds
Although not always regarded as such, natural orange diamonds, referring to those with a single color descriptor of “orange” are some of the most elusive of all natural colored diamonds. So rare is it that a orange diamond receive a color grading of pure orange that many collectors have never seen one. More common, yet hardly abundant are orange diamonds with a color modifier such as brown or yellow. Prized for their beauty and rarity, orange diamonds are one of the most sought after colors by prominent collectors. One of the most famous orange diamonds, the Pumpkin Diamond Ring, containing the World’s largest cut fancy vivid orange diamond, was worn by Best Actress winner Halle Berry to the 2002 Oscars. This ring is valued at over $3 Million.
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Red Diamonds
Red Diamonds are the rarest of the fancy color diamonds. In fact, they are so rare in nature that most jewelers and diamond dealers have never even seen a natural red diamond. The world's largest red diamond is known as the Red Shield, and weighs "only" 5.11 carats, compared with over 600 carats for the largest diamond of any kind. It is not a large stone by any means, but is so rare simply because it is red.
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Secondary Colors
Natural colored diamonds come in just about every possible color observed in nature. In order to achieve some of these colors, diamonds often contain a second or even third color. The dominate hue is always expressed last with the secondary colors preceding it. Usually, these secondary colors are followed by the suffix “-ish” at the end, as in fancy purplish pink. If the color grade contains two colors such as fancy purple pink, this means the colors are dispersed evenly throughout.
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Treated, Cultured or Genesis Diamonds
Fancy Colored Diamonds are not always “natural.” Their color may have been modified or enhanced through one or more processes involving irradiation and/or extreme heat known as High Pressure High Temperature (HPHT) treatments. This process creates yet artificial colors from low grade diamonds to improve their value. While this enhancement may in fact be permanent, the occurrence of natural color in diamonds is far rarer and thus more costly. The tests for identification of “origin of color” are usually conclusive, but may require sophisticated equipment and highly qualified testers. It is highly recommended that GIA confirm the origin of color as “natural” in any fancy colored diamond of enough size to warrant it. Any diamond merchant is required to provide full disclosure as to any artificial treatments performed on a stone. If you are sold an uncertified stone, be sure to have it certified to ensure that your purchase is justified.
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